Srinagar, June 24: The inhabitants of Yadipora Palhallan (D) area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday staged a protest against the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) for the proposed extension point of overhead water tanker located in the village.
As locals resisted against the proposal of the Jal Shakti Department’s move, stating that it will further lead to water crisis in the hamlet. The employees of the department raided many houses in the village and seized several water boosters.
Ghulam Nabi, a local resident told Rising Kashmir that for the past 2 days, the officials from Jal Shakti Department are visiting the water tank located in the village.
They want to set up extension point for vehicles, but it will add to the water crisis in the area. Large portion of the village is still getting drinking water,” he said.
“We suffered for decades without portable water and a few years ago this water tanker was constructed along with a water filtration plant that is presently laying defunct. Now they (JSD) want to make extension point for vehicles to cater the water to nearby villages, villagers will not let it happen,” Nabi said.
The villagers also said that water is supplied to them without any filtration. The filtration plant that is barely 800 meters from the water tank is still defunct for several years.
Another local, Abdul Rahim Dar said that during the raid, his water booster installed on a tube well was seized. “How can they seize a water motor on a tube well,” he questioned.
“If the pressure of the water would have been enough, then why would people install water boosters? The JSD officials have also snapped the water supply in the village, adding further chaos to the existing situation, he said.
Tehsildar Pattan Saqib Murtaza (KAS), Police team of Palhallan Post along with officials from Jal Shaki Department were present on the spot.
Talking to reporters, Saqib Murtaza said that the administration has intensified the crackdown against the water boosters. We formed a joint team of PHE, Revenue and Police and raided many locations including Pattan Market, Yadipora (D) and Singpora. During the drive, dozens of online water boosters, he said.
Murtaza also warned the locals for wasting drinking water unnecessarily and using the same in the kitchen gardens. Due to it water pressure decreases and it leads to further water crisis, he said.
Regarding the protest of Yadipora residents, Murtaza said that they (JSD) are planning to set up an extension point in the overhead tank, it has enough water capacity to cater the demand but unfortunately locals have protested against the proposed move. We will look at what we can do in this regard, he said.
AEE Baramulla Aijaz Ahmad said apart from using electric water boosters in taps, it is illegal to use water boosters in the tube well.
“Anyone who is using water boosters in Tubewell is illegal. There is a 30 thousand rupees penalty on using it, we have orders from the higher ups for the same,” he added.
Chief Engineer PHE, Basharat Jeelani was not available for official comments on the issue.
